Launch tube for a long hole drilling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A launching apparatus for a horizontal drill which is adapted to bore a hole in a vertical or substantially vertical face comprising a cylindrical tube which is divided longitudinally and substantially diametrically to form an upper and lower cylindrical half-portion. The inside diameter of the tube is slightly greater than the maximum diameter of the horizontal drilling apparatus. Fasteners and hinges are provided between the upper and lower portions so that the entire upper portion can be opened to receive the horizontal drill and then closed and latched to provide a continuous, rigid cylindrical tube. Adjustable mounting means are provided for positioning the tube in a particular orientation with respect to the face being drilled, and an axial thrust anchoring system is provided which is attached between the tube and the face being drilled.

[ Dec. 10, 1974 United States Patent [191 Bourne, Jr. et al.

3,814,192 6/1974 Steen 173/44 LAUNCH TUBE FOR A LONG HOLE DRILLING APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Henry A. Bourne, Jr., Ponca City,

Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser Okla; Rondo L. Schroeder, Assistant ExammerYVilham F Pate, lIl

Attorney, Agent, or F1rmWill1am J. Miller Shmnston, W. Va.

[57] ABSTRACT A launching apparatus for a horizontal drill which is [73] Assignee: Continental Oil Company, Ponca City, Okla.

[22] Filed: Nov. 26, 1973 adapted to bore a hole in a vertical or substantially vertical face comprising a cylindrical tube which is divided longitudinally and substantially diametrically to form an upper and lower cylindrical half-portion. The inside diameter of the tube is slightly greater than the maximum diameter of the horizontal drilling apparatus. Fasteners and hinges are provided between the upper and lower portions so that the entire upper por- 8 5 n n H 9 m l n 4 n M C W 8 A U 11 1 1 2 2 5 .l. l.

tion can be opened to receive the horizontal drill and then closed and latched to provide a continuous, rigid cylindrical tube. Adjustable mounting means are provided for positioning the tube in a particular orienta- [56] R f nc Cit d tion with respect to the face being drilled, and an axial UNITED STATES PATENTS thrust anchoring system is provided which is attached between the tube and the face being drilled.

l/l949 Lauritsen et al............. 89/l.816 X ll/l967 Ebeling.........;.........,............. 175/94 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures LAUNCH TUBE FOR A LONG HOLE DRILLIN APPARATUS BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Various means have been provided for orienting horizontal drills. US. Pat. No. 3,314,724 to W. Tinlin shows a hydraulically positioned horizontal drilling apparatus. US. Pat. No. 1,159,302 to J. S. Wallace shows a mechanically positioned horizontal drilling apparatus. US. Pat. No. 2,524,262 to C. W. Kandle and US. Pat. No. 2,969,121 to .I. G. Wallace both illustrate anchoring devices for horizontal drills; while US. Pat. No. 2,023,027 to W. J. Mitchell shows an orienting tube for a drill. None of the patents deal with the problems of launching a drilling apparatus where the entire drilling apparatus forces itself into the side of a mountain. In all cases the drilling apparatus of the prior art is contained as an integral part of the positioning or anchoring apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention describes an apparatus for launching a horizontal drill which includes a hydraulic I drive mechanism, an instrument package, a drilling unit, a deflecting unit, and a drill bit, all aligned axially. The entire assembly can be 24 feet long and virtually impossible to position and force into the ground without the launching tube described herein. The launching tube includes a cradle for supporting the horizontal drill which is formed of a cylindrical tube divided longitudinally along its diameter so that the lower portion, which forms the cradle, has sufficient length to support the entire horizontal drill. The upper portion is hinged so that it can be closed, and latches are provided for rigidly securing the upper portion once closed. In the closed position, the upper and lower portions form a continuous tubular assembly having an inner diameter slightly larger than the horizontal drill but small enough so that the pressure feet associated with the hydraulic drive can engage the walls and create a force sufficient to drive the horizontal drill into the face to be drilled.

An adjustable support apparatus is provided to vertically and horizontally position the cylindrical tube so order to overcome these difficulties, a launch tube was invented and is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The launch tube consists of sections of. cylindrical tubular elements diametrically divided and bolted together and supported on three height-adjustable support stands. Provision is made for lateral movement of the launch tube with respect to the support stands. Further provision is made to anchor the launch tube against axial thrust.

Referring to the figures but in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3, a launch tube assembly comprises two halfsections 11 made from six-inch inside diameter aluminum pipe. Half-flanges 12 are welded to the ends of half-sections l1 and are bolted together with bolts 13 to form a continuous half-tube. A T-section 15 is welded to the bottom of each half-section 11 to provide stiffness to the overall unit. Shorter six-inch inside diameter aluminum pipe half-sections 16 (four in number) are attached to the bottom sections 11 by hinges 17. A bolt 18 forms a pivot for hinges 17. The adjustable support stands are attached to bands 20 mounted in three locations along the launch tube assembly. A

cylindrical section 21 is attached normal to each of the that it will be properly located with respect to the face to be drilled. Axial thrust anchoring means are also provided for transferring the forces from the horizontal drive to the drill bit so that it can be forced into the face to be drilled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES LAUNCH TUBE FOR A HORIZONTAL DRILL Difficulties encountered with a horizontal drill are drilling the first 24 feet of hole, because of lack of support for the drilling assembly and lack of a drill hole wall for the hydraulic mechanism to operate against. In

bands on the underside and tits into a mating vertically tubular section 22 which is welded to a side plate 23 for a support assembly 24. A pair of rollers 14 is journaled in support assembly 24. A parallel rod or support bar 25 is welded to a vertical tubular support 26 which fits over a vertical tubular member 27. A support stand 28 supports vertical tubular member 27. Each vertical tubular member is provided with a plurality of holes 29 which permits positioning of horizontal support bars 25 at various elevations. Pins 30support short tubular members 26 at the desired elevation. Conical halfsections 31 are welded to the ends of half-sections 11 and 16 to provide smooth entry for hydraulic hoses and electric cables. The entire assembly is anchored by means of cables 35 which are attached by any suitable means to half-sections 11 and to an anchor 36 which may be drilled and anchored to a rock face, for example.

Referring to FIG. 4 the horizontal drill which is launched by the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 is shown and essentially comprises a hydraulic drive unit 38 which includes a plurality of pressure feet 40 and a set of reset feet- 39. Hydraulic drive 38 is connected through a shaft 41 to an instrument package 42 which in turn is connected to a drill motor 43. An output shaft 44 from drill 43 is coupled to a drill bit 46. A deflection unit 45 may be attached to the horizontal drill for providing a means for deviating the horizontal drill from its present direction.

Operation of the launch tube is as follows:

Each of the hinged self-sections 16 is opened to permit exposure to the bottom half-tubular section 11. A horizontal drill shown in FIG. 4 is then laid onto the cradle formed by half-section 11. Each of the top halftubular sections 16 is then closed and pinned to form a continuous tube. When the horizontal drill is actuated, the hydraulic mechanism 38 will have the side walls of the tube for applying driving force through pressure feet 39 or 40. Furthermore, the particular lo cation to be drilled can be properly oriented by loosening pins 30 and adjusting the height of support bars 25 and reinserting pins 30. Rollers 14 will accommodate any horizontal adjustments illustrated by arrow 37 necessary to properly align the tube with the area to be drilled. Anchors 36 and cables 35 will restrain the assembly from axial movement created when the drill enters the face being drilled.

CONCLUSIONS A launching tube has been described which provides for launching a horizontal drill into a substantially vertical face. The launching tube has adjustable support means for proper orientation of the drill and also provids for securing the launching tube against axial movement caused by thrust created by the hydraulic drive.

It is obvious that changes and modifications can be made in the particular launching tube disclosed and be well within the spirit and scope of this invention as described in the specification and appended claims.

means attached to said lower cylindrical halfportion; and

d. means for anchoring said cylindrical tube to said vertical face to support said launching apparatus against axial thrust.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical tube additionally includes truncated conical portions which are further divided to separate into upper and lower truncated portions wherein the smaller diameter of said truncated portions is. attached to at least one end of said cylindrical tube.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower cylindrical half-portions are attached along one side with hinges and along the other side with releasable catches.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said upper half-cylindrical portion is divided diametrically into a plurality of sections.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said horizontally and vertically adjustable mounting means comprises a base, vertically extending support means, horizontal cylindrical bar means, means for selectively securing said horizontal cylindrical bar means to said vertically extending support means to provide a plurality of selected heights, and roller means positioned on said horizontal cylindrical bar means and attached to said lower cylindrical half-portion. 

1. A launching apparatus for a horizontal drilling apparatus adapted to bore a hole in a vertical face comprising: a. a cylindrical tube divided longitudinally and substantially diametrically to form an upper and lower cylindrical halfportion, the inside diameter of which is slightly greater than the maximum diameter of said horizontal drilling apparatus; b. means for releasably securing said upper cylindrical halfportion to said bottom cylindrical half-portion; c. vertically and horizontally adjustable mounting means attached to said lower cylindrical half-portion; and d. means for anchoring said cylindrical tube to said vertical face to support said launching apparatus against axial thrust.
 2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical tube additionally includes truncated conical portions which are further divided to separate into upper and lower truncated portions wherein the smaller diameter of said truncated portions is attached to at least one end of said cylindrical tube.
 3. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower cylindrical half-portions are attached along one side with hinges and along the other side with releasable catches.
 4. Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said upper half-cylindrical portion is divided diametrically into a plurality of sections.
 5. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said horizontally and vertically adjustable mounting means comprises a base, vertically extending support means, horizontal cylindrical bar means, means for selectively securing said horizontal cylindrical bar means to said vertically extending support means to provide a plurality of selected heights, and roller means positioned on said horizontal cylindrical bar means and attached to said lower cylindrical half-portion. 